Overview & Reviews

Chevrolet sells an impressively wide range of vehicles, from subcompact hatchbacks to huge vans and SUVs. If you're looking for a reasonably priced vehicle, odds are that Chevy will have something to fit your needs.

Chevrolet got its start in 1911. After William C. Durant had been ousted from General Motors, he joined forces with Swiss-born racecar driver Louis Chevrolet to found the Chevrolet Motor Car Company. The company's first offering was the Classic Six. Introduced in 1912, this five-passenger touring sedan could top 65 mph, fast for the time. Chevrolet's storied bowtie logo -- reportedly inspired by the wallpaper of a Paris hotel room that Durant stayed at -- made its first appearance in 1914.

By 1918, Chevrolet's profitability allowed Durant to purchase enough shares in GM to regain control. Chevrolet became another division of GM, and was its largest volume division by the mid-1920s. By 1927, Chevrolet outsold rival Ford, with sales in excess of 1 million units.

In the mid-1930s Chevrolet introduced independent front suspension, which provided a smoother ride over the rough roads of the day. The 1940s saw continued success with affordable coupes, sedans and pickup trucks catering to American families, farmers and businessmen.

By the mid-1950s, Chevrolet, GM's entry-level division, had added a V8 engine, power steering and brakes, power windows and air-conditioning to its list of available features, allowing luxury for those on a tighter budget. Around this time the iconic Bel Air model -- available in coupe, sedan, convertible and wagon body styles -- proved very popular. The company introduced its alluring Corvette in 1953; the vehicle was the first mass-produced car with a fiberglass body.

The 1960s saw the unveiling of the popular, air-cooled Corvair compact, which held the distinction of being the first domestic production car with all-around independent suspension. That decade also witnessed the launch of the compact Nova, the midsize Chevelle and the sporty Camaro, the latter Chevrolet's answer to the wildly successful Ford Mustang. The Camaro proved an instant hit, comprising 10 percent of Chevrolet's total sales in 1967, its first year of production.

In the 1970s, Chevy responded to changing preferences by introducing small cars like the Vega and the Chevette, and by downsizing larger models such as the Caprice and Malibu. The company combated the market domination of foreign nameplates in the 1980s by rolling out the Cavalier. By the end of that decade, trucks and SUVs had started to become increasingly popular with the general consumer, and the brand's mid- and full-size models continue to this day to be some of the most popular on the road.

The '90s and the early 2000s saw the company raising the performance bar with its Corvette (notably the Z06 and, later, ZR1 variants) and reincarnated Impala SS. Chevrolet's Silverado pickup truck and Tahoe/Suburban SUVs continued to be hits as well. By 2010, the Camaro had returned to the lineup after a seven-year hiatus.

Modern times have seen Chevrolet make significant improvements in its small and midsize car models and introduce the Volt plug-in hybrid. The latter provides a nearly 40-mile range on electric power alone, and adds to the company's already well-rounded lineup of cars, trucks and SUVs. Though today's marketplace is very demanding, Chevrolet seems poised to remain a power player through its affordable and innovative vehicles.

User Reviews:

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  Made on a Monday?? - 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Not so pleased - November 29 - 10:00 am

  The engine light came on one day after I had it. It took 4 tries for the dealership to finally fix it. Since then, the engine light has come on numerous times. Ive had 3 parts replaced in less than 2 years. Thank goodness for OnStar. Im looking for another type of car after only 2 years of having the car to avoid buying the extended warranty. The car looks great, but if Im worried about it getting me where I need to go thats pretty pointless.

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  show me something. . .SWEET!! - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Anthony Joseph - November 29 - 10:00 am

  The new Impala base 3.4 commands the road like a champion. No growl like the 3.8 LS, however their is a solid amount of power delivered as smooth as silk to the front wheels. Value, style, performance, and safety.

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  Happy Truck Owner - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By happy owner - November 29 - 9:50 am

  I looked at the Tundra, F150, and Silverado. All are great trucks, but I liked the regular cab Silverado better. I get 18mpg mixed with the 5.3L on regular, and 15mpg on E85. I got the off road package, which comes with the locking diff that I wanted. The z71 suspension doesnt hurt the ride too much. Front seat comfort is really good. Radio/HVAC is easy reach for average driver. Interior build quality seems good. Like the Toyota and Ford, the Silverado paint job has an orange peel problem, but that is usual in this price range. The G80 rear end makes wet boat ramps easy...I recommend it for towing and off roading.

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  To the Xtreme - 1999 Chevrolet S-10
  By bigjr_fan - November 29 - 2:00 am

  It took me awhile to find an xtreme in my area with the right color and engine combo (for me: black, 4.3, 5 speed) but once I found it I was very happy with almost every aspect of the truck. I have made several modifications to the engine and interior to boost performance. I wouldnt recommend this vehicle for a daily driver, rather a weekend toy.

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  The S-10 - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By S-10 Owner - November 29 - 2:00 am

  It is a simple truck and I recommend it only for commercial usage for it is not a family car (truck). It is not entirely good looking but once again, this truck is not for the style, but for the dirty and tough jobs. It is like a Blazer minus 3 seats and 1/2 of the roof. Has an old body design (dated back to about 1995). Oh yeah, there is one more thing, check out on this site the 2004 Chevy Colorado.

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  Chevrolet S-10 - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By Bill Worsley - November 29 - 2:00 am

  Vehicle engine occasionally "revs up" when trying to shift from low to drive. The dealer is aware of this problem and is working with me to correct it. It is aggravating. You expect a new vehicle to preform problem free.

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  LS1 POWER - 1998 Chevrolet Camaro
  By musterd - November 29 - 2:00 am

  This is a very reliable car and gets excellent gas mileage. I was very impressed with it. The LS1 engine has the power to stomp almost any other stock engine on the road. Great Value.

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  The Best Car Ever Is A Cavalier Z24 Conv - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Chris Fontana - November 29 - 2:00 am

  The Cavalier Z24 is the best car for the money I have experienced no problems and everyone who says it is bad probably were not taking care of the car or they are bad to their cars all together. The five speed manual transmission is very fast and has great sound. Even with the convertible top down still has a quiet ride. The 2.4L twin cam engine is fast and is great for tuning for an American "Fast And Furiouse" car.

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  The Blazer - 2003 Chevrolet Blazer
  By K.B. - November 29 - 2:00 am

  It is a nice car and it handles well. Good for families with children. If you want a larger S.U.V. I suggest you buy a Chevy Tahoe or Suburban. I have found out that the exterior body style is a tad out of date. It is a smaller sibling of the new TrailBlazer. Overall, it is a great S.U.V. to drive.

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  Awesome C5 - 1998 Chevrolet Corvette
  By RickG - November 29 - 2:00 am

  The 1998 Corvette Convertible is a great car ! Fun to drive, great gas mileage, awesome looks and most of all its American Made! The car is very well engineered, reliable and I think it is the best sports car value for the money without question. GM will have a major undertaking if it plans to top the C5 with the upcoming C6, on the other hand if the C5 is this good, maybe the C6 will be totally spectacular!